When I first got off the train in Sargans the smell of manure welcomed me! Sascha said I’d miss it… I’m not so sure about that! But I had a wonderful time in dreamy Liechtenstein. I will miss the mountains, the wild flowers… It was a very soothing destination. This little country is definitely more than just a tax haven.
Balzers morning mist
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein – Rhine
The good thing about Europe is that everything is just a train ride away!… Although this time the train ride took me to an unexpected destination! Some might have heard about it, but I guess most wouldn’t be able to put it on a map! Between Switzerland and Austria lies a small country, or shall I say microstate, called Liechtenstein!
If you’re reading this I bet you’re saying out loud “Liechtenstein” I mean how often do you get to use that word… unless you’re extremely rich and looking for a tax haven!
How do you get to Liechtenstein? I was in Geneva so I had to go all the way across Switzerland to Sargans (which is still in Switzerland) because no trains actually stop in Liechtenstein. The train ride was amazing, you get very close to the Lac Leman and the Swiss country side is breath taking, vineyards, lac, mountains, hills, green pastures… In Sargans my own personal tour guide was waiting for me! The best way to see a country is always definitely with a local!
Of course with only about 35000 inhabitants, befriending a Liechtensteiner is not that easy! Well ironically I met Sascha at a concert in Tokyo! Yeah they can travel outside of their country! Although I bet they always get a weird look when they go through customs!
Sascha has a 3Ms love, Music (he is in a band called Ranger Bob), Macintosh and Mustang. Which means he is an official sponsor of Poukie (my I-pod) as for cars I’m a passenger seat person so I know very little but I can enjoy a comfortable seat and cool useless features like colored lights for your feet! So I got to go around Liechtenstein in a very fancy car… I should have brought fancier cloths and pretended to be a fiscal refugee!
Liechtenstein is a very cute place, no lac Leman but the Rhine does go past, small valleys, wonderful snowy mountains, charming little villages, ski stations for winter…
The Prince’s castle looks over the capital Vaduz where you will find the parliament and the museum of art (which is basically a black marble bunker) we didn’t have enough time to check out the art collection, but according to the Prince’s large fortune, I am sure there must be some interesting pieces.
It took us one afternoon to do Liechtenstein from south to north, leaving out 2 villages off the tour. The country side has been well preserved and they are strict rules when it comes to construction, so Liechtenstein has kept its “cachet” which I think was essential considering the new money that splurged this little country.
In the evening I got to check out a place called “Tom’s beer box” which is situated in Chur, the oldest town of Switzerland. It’s quite a fun place, very friendly atmosphere, definitely a regulars bar but the owner will welcome you with a witty comment, after a beer you’ll feel right at home, and for a 100 frc you can even get your personal beer opener with your name on it to hang on the wall!
Probably how we might see Liechtenstein!
The Ford GT500 – fancy ride
The sweet country side
In the clouds with the dandelion
Just like in the Milka advertising!
Malbun Liechtenstein – Ski destination in winter
Sascha and his I-phone
Balzers Castle
Marco also in a band Black Sonic (they have a new album coming out, called 7 deadly sins) and Sascha at Tom’s beer box
